Three veteran pass rushers Chicago could still add |
Dustin Riese
· · 8 hours ago
It's finally here, folks, as the 2025 NFL season kicked off last night to open a brand new NFL season. Chicago will have to wait longer than normal to open its season, as it won't take the field until Monday when it hosts the Minnesota Vikings to wrap up Week 1.
Speaking of the Dallas Cowboys, they were the center of attention last week as they traded away disgruntled stud EDGE rusher Micah Parsons for a pair of first-round picks and Green Bay Packers DT Kenny Clark. It was a move that seemed to be coming to fruition for weeks, but to finally see it happen was a shock, no matter how you look at it. The Packers then turned around and gave Parsons a massive extension to make him one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the game. As smart a move as that was for the Packers, it could be a nightmare for Chicago as they will have to face him twice a season for the foreseeable future, as this brings back the Khalil Mack vibes when the Bears traded for him before the 2018 season. Green Bay wasn't the only team in the division making moves last week, as the Vikings were very active on the trade market. It all started with the surprising decision to trade veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips to the Jets in exchange for picks. You then saw them turn around and flip back up quarterback Sam Howell to the Eagles for more picks, which opened the door for the Carson Wentz signing. Minnesota closed out the week by reuniting with Adam Thielen as the NFC North continues to be an intriguing division. Guess what, Chicago? You're next, as this division is as wide open as it has ever been, and if the Bears want to be in the mix in the end, they need to address their one glaring issue, which is the EDGE rush position. To his credit, Austin Booker made a great impression throughout the preseason, but as a second-year player, no one knows what to expect from him on a full-time basis. Knowing that, there are several veterans still available on the market who the Bears could sign on a cheap one-year deal and still get the production they are looking for to help Montez Sweat get after the quarterback.
While it is unclear whether Barrett wants to play this season, should he have an interest and the Bears come calling, he would be a great under-the-radar pickup for the Dennis Allen defense. The 32-year-old is coming off a season where he retired during the offseason, only to come out of retirement and play for Tampa Bay. While his role was minimal, with a total of 17 sacks across both the regular and postseason, his resume speaks for itself, as he has always been a reliable player that teams can count on. Barrett is a two-time Pro Bowler who has amassed 59 career sacks, including a 10-sack season as recently as 2021. Adding him gives the Bears more depth, although he would be the lowest of the three options on this list.Shaq Barrett
Preston Smith
The final two names on this list are players the Bears are familiar with, given their ties with the NFC North. Take Preston Smith, for example, who began his career with Washington before spending last season with the Steelers. It's his time with Green Bay that the Bears are familiar with, as his best days came during his tenure with the Packers.
Another veteran, Smith has collected 70.5 sacks since entering the NFL and has been a primarily healthy option over his now 11-year career. You started to see a slight decline last season with 4.5 sacks combined between Green Bay and Pittsburgh, and given his age, you could see a scenario where he would sign on the cheap and be used in pass rush packages only.
Za'Darius Smith
The final name on this list has been talked about several times this offseason in Za'Darius Smith. Like Preston, Smith's best days came with the Green Bay Packers as he wreaked havoc on the Bears for several seasons. However, his success against the Bears goes far beyond that, as Smith has played for every NFC North team except the Bears.
Why not make it four for four to close out what has been an already remarkable career? Sure, his age and injury history are a concern, but put him in the right situation, and there is no question that Smith is still a playmaker. Between the Browns and Lions last season, Za'Darius proved he can still produce, combining for nine sacks and 35 tackles. With 69 career sacks to date, the now 32-year-old is a versatile defender who could be utilized in several different ways with Allen.
